Townleap

Cost of Living: Amsterdam vs Stuttgart (2026)

Netherlands vs Germany — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Amsterdam
Stuttgart
$2602/mo
Rent
$1157/mo
69/100
Livability
84/100
89/100
Safety
92/100
86/100
Healthcare
85/100
5 yr
PR path
5 yr
122 Mbps
Internet
224 Mbps
Freelance setup
ZZP'er
  • VAT-free under €20k
  • 5.3% social
  • €1200/yr accountant
WiseStripe
Freiberufler
  • VAT-free under €25k
  • €1200/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated June 2026

TL;DRStuttgart is 56% cheaper on rent ($1157/mo vs $2602/mo). Both countries will let you complain about the government in public — and mean it.
Stuttgart scores 84 to Amsterdam's 69 on livability — the gap is real. Amsterdam has its charms, but the numbers favor Stuttgart.
Household
Amsterdam
Metric
Stuttgart
$2602/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$1157/mo
$937/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$829/mo
$10,705
🧳
Cost to land
0.7 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
0.3 / 100k
26 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
20°C
☀️
Summer high
24°C
1°C
❄️
Winter low
0°C
122 Mbps
Internet speed
224 Mbps
11.2 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
9.2 μg/m³
9.0 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.7 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$86k
💼
GDP per capita
$74k
3.3% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.3% · Boringly steady
69 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
84 / 100
94/100 — Reliable
Grid reliability
98/100 — Reliable
97/100
🗽
Freedom House
5 years
📋
Time to PR
5 years
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated June 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Stuttgart
$1445/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Stuttgart
0.3 homicides per 100k
☀️
Weather
20°C vs 24°C summers
🗣️
English
Amsterdam
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

44% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
37% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
7.7h
Shortest day
Dec
8.3h
16.8h
Longest day
Jun
16.1h

Sun clocks out before 5pm in both cities come December. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
improving
Inflation trend
fintechlogisticssemiconductorsagri-food-tech
Industries
hub
Startup ecosystem
94/100
Grid reliability
98/100
5 yrs
Time to PR
5 yrs
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
Easy
EU visa
Easy
Complex
RU visa
Complex
Easy
UA visa
Moderate
Partner can work immediately
Spouse works
Recognized
geregistreerd partnerschap / samenwonend
Partner pathway
Not recognized
eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft (now: Ehe)

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
24 wk
Gestational limit
12 wk

On request up to 24 weeks. 5-day reflection period removed in 2023.

Not punishable within 12 weeks with mandatory counseling and 3-day waiting period.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

59/100
Rainbow Index
66/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 56% cheaper in Stuttgart ($1157/mo vs $2602/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Stuttgart (24°C vs 20°C).

Amsterdam vs Stuttgart — Common Questions

Is Amsterdam cheaper than Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1157/month in Stuttgart vs $2602/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Amsterdam or Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Amsterdam has a rate of 0.73 per 100,000 and Stuttgart has 0.33 per 100,000.

Should I move to Amsterdam or Stuttgart?

Stuttgart scores 84 to Amsterdam's 69 on livability — the gap is real. Amsterdam has its charms, but the numbers favor Stuttgart. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Amsterdam or Stuttgart?

Amsterdam: Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant (complex process, Up to 5 years). Stuttgart: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Amsterdam or Stuttgart?

Stuttgart is warmer in summer (24°C vs 20°C). Amsterdam has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Amsterdam vs Stuttgart?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1157/month in Stuttgart, $2602/month in Amsterdam (Numbeo). That's 56% cheaper rent in Stuttgart.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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